Though Yinqi was practicing archery, his thoughts were entirely preoccupied with his ninth brother.
Had his ninth brother found a suitable Anda? Was that Anda reliable? These thoughts filled Yinqi’s mind, leaving him with no focus for archery. Several arrows he shot missed the bullseye by an inch.
He simply put down his bow and turned to look for Yinti’s small figure.
Then he saw his little pink-dumpling brother standing at the base of the Archery Hall’s stone steps, while lazily seated above was Han Ama’s A Shumergen Anda.
Yinqi: “…”
He quickly handed his bow to the Anda beside him and hurried toward the Archery Hall.
When Yinzhen saw Yinqi heading toward the Archery Hall, his gaze followed and he spotted Yinti tilting his little head back to speak with A Shumergen. His hand trembled, and the released arrow missed the target entirely, narrowly skimming past the hat of a nearby little eunuch. The little eunuch was so frightened he fell backward onto the ground.
He should have warned his ninth brother earlier not to be deceived by this man’s appearance. When Yinzhen first came to the Archery Hall, he too had thought this seemingly idle Anda was easygoing, only to discover he was the strictest during training. To make matters worse, he was Han Ama’s Anda, outranking them in status—even Yinti and the Crown Prince had to obey him dutifully.
Yinzhen felt this was the very embodiment of a lamb walking into a tiger’s den, and he silently mourned in advance for the days ahead of Yinti.
A Shumergen sat leisurely on the stone steps, watching Yinti with amusement.
After hearing such blunt words from him, would this little fellow leave awkwardly or burst into tears?
Hey, if he really cried, that would be the perfect excuse to back down. If the Emperor asked, he could just say he took him as a disciple to comfort him.
Just as A Shumergen was happily imagining this, he suddenly saw the little pink dumpling bare his teeth in a grin, lift the hem of his robe with both small hands, and charge straight toward him.
Before he could react, the little pink dumpling had already grabbed his left arm. His eyes, dark as grapes, were wide open, and the corners of his mouth drooped downward, reminding A Shumergen of the pitiful little puppy his grandson had picked up on the grassland.
Swinging his arm, the little pink dumpling pleaded in a milky, pitiful voice, “I just feel the strongest connection with you. Won’t you please be my Anda?”
After all, my plan to be a carefree idler depends entirely on you.
A Shumergen glanced inside the hall—the Emperor remained remarkably composed, showing no reaction. He continued to hold his position, letting Yinti swing his arm.
Only the corners of his mouth, which he couldn’t suppress, betrayed his inner delight.
Perhaps he really was getting old. Especially since becoming a grandfather, he had no resistance to adorable creatures like kittens, puppies, and little children. In his youth, he had been a baturu who could kill a tiger barehanded.
But he had only one daughter, and she had been whisked away by a Mongol lad, now settled with her husband’s family in Mongolia. He hardly got to hold his grandson even once a year.
Every time he listened to his colleagues share their experiences raising their little grandsons and granddaughters, his heart itched with envy.
And now, a little pink dumpling had delivered himself right to his doorstep!
Even if he was a little prince, if palace attendants could hold him, why couldn’t he?
Moreover, the little pink dumpling was just too adorable! Sweet and fragrant all over, like a piece of Nai Wu Ta! If not for considering the Emperor’s intentions, he would have agreed right then and there! My precious little disciple, ahhh!
Completely unaware of Ashumuergen’s inner thoughts, Kangxi watched with some pride from inside the hall as the little pink dumpling exerted all efforts to act cute, thinking: My Anda Ashumuergen isn’t as easy to talk to as I am. Has he run into a hard wall? After all, he’s my Anda—not so easily persuaded.
Then another thought crossed his mind: Given this child’s temperament, if Ashumuergen were to say anything more to refuse him, he’d probably get teary-eyed and start crying. Fine, fine. If Ashumuergen still refuses, I’ll step in and ask him myself.
Just as Kangxi was hesitating whether to make an appearance, he heard the little pink dumpling’s sweet voice from outside the hall: “Master, I can make lots of delicious treats, including Ginger Milk Curd. Even Han Ama said it was good after tasting it. If you take me as your student, I’ll make delicious food for you every day!”
“Pfft—” Kangxi spat out the mouthful of tea he had just sipped.
Well, he had never seen someone sell out their Ama so smoothly just to gain favor.
Kangxi took the handkerchief from Liang Jiugong and wiped his face, thinking to himself: No, no. If this old fellow keeps putting on airs and refuses, my home might just be stolen away. Now he’s even promised to cook for him—who knows what else he might promise next? I’ve only ever tasted Ginger Milk Curd myself. Why should Little Ninth make food for this old fellow every day and let him take such a big advantage?
“Ahem.” A low cough came from inside the hall, so quiet that only Ashumuergen could hear it clearly. This was the Emperor’s silent way of giving his approval.
Ashumuergen forced back a laugh and took the opportunity to pinch Yintang’s chubby little cheek, saying, “Alright then.”
“Will you? Will you, please…” Yintang was still putting all his effort into acting cute when, caught off guard, the master pinched his cheek and agreed. He froze for a moment before realizing what had happened, then clapped his hands and laughed, “That’s wonderful!”
Only then did he remember his fourth and fifth brothers. He looked up to find them, only to see Yinzhen and Yinqi already standing side by side at the foot of the stone steps, watching him with strange expressions.
It seems Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother think the Anda is a bit too old. I’ll explain it to them in private later, so we don’t mention his age in front of him and hurt the master’s feelings, Yintang thought.
Holding Ashumuergen’s hand, he walked down the stone steps and announced loudly to his two brothers, “Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, this is my Anda!”
“You’ve already chosen?” Yinqi’s face rarely showed a hint of horror.
Yintang thought Fifth Brother was acting a bit strange but still nodded happily: “Anda has already agreed to teach me.”
Yinzhen rubbed his forehead.
As he spoke, Yintang suddenly remembered he hadn’t even asked the Anda’s name. He scratched his head and asked sheepishly, “Anda, I was so happy earlier that I forgot to ask—what’s your name?”
Ashumuergen looked down at his little disciple with a smile and said, “Ashumuergen.”
“Oh, Ashumuergen Anda!” Yintang cheerfully called out to him.
Yinzhen and Yinqi exchanged a glance, silently thinking: Let’s hope that after three months under the guidance of this “Iron-Blooded Anda,” Ninth Brother can still smile this happily.
The four of them stood before the hall, surrounded by a circle of eunuchs and Andas, drawing considerable attention. Out of the corner of his eye, Yinreng glanced at the crowd, then spurred his horse forward, steadily releasing his final arrow. Only when the arrowhead embedded itself in the bullseye did he rein in his horse and leisurely turn back.
He took the handkerchief offered by a eunuch to wipe his sweat, then beckoned someone over to inquire about the situation.
As he listened to the explanation, Yinreng couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow slightly. This little fellow, who barely reached the height of a horse’s leg, certainly had audacity in his actions.
He urged his horse toward the front of the hall.
“A Shumergen Anda,” Yinreng greeted as he dismounted.
Yintang looked at the Crown Prince with confusion. Why was the Crown Prince being so excessively polite now, even dismounting to greet an Anda?
A faint sense of foreboding rose in his heart.
Almost simultaneously, Yinti also rode up to the front of the hall.
He had been practicing consecutive shots on horseback when he suddenly noticed Yinreng heading toward the Archery Hall and saw a crowd gathered there. Though unsure of what was happening, he hurried over on his horse.
Although he reined in his horse early, the abrupt stop inevitably kicked up some dust. The adults and older princes were unaffected, but it happened to sprinkle all over little Yintang’s head and face.
“Pfft, pfft!” Yintang hurriedly spat out the sand.
Yinti jumped off his horse, laughing heartily. “My apologies, Ninth Brother. I forgot how short you are—some sand ended up on you.”
“You!” Yinqi couldn’t help exclaiming, while Yinzhen clenched his fists, glaring at Yinti.
“What?” Yinti sneered. “Do you two want to challenge me?”
The two sides stood at an impasse. The two young Princes refused to back down, while Yinti, tall and sturdy, naturally paid them no mind.
Suddenly, the two youngsters saw A Shumergen Anda shake his head at them and wink.
They immediately understood—yes, Yintang had an Anda of high seniority. Simultaneously, they snorted, cast a cold glance at Yinti, and ignored him. This tactic was one they had just learned from Yintang.
Seeing that they wouldn’t take the bait, Yinti indeed found it somewhat dull. He had no choice but to turn and ask Yinreng as if nothing had happened, “What’s going on here?”
He certainly didn’t want to engage with the Crown Prince, but among the Princes present, he had managed to offend everyone except Yinreng.
Yinreng shot him a glance, wearing an expression of amusement. “Nothing much. It’s just that Ninth Brother has acknowledged an Anda.”
“Oh,” Yinti snorted. “I thought it was something major, seeing everyone gathered here. Since it’s nothing, I’ll resume my practice. My best record today is five consecutive bullseyes—I’m aiming for ten.”
He deliberately said this for Yinreng to hear.
Among the imperial princes, Yinti was closest in age to Yinreng, and he unconsciously saw him as a rival, always striving to outdo him.
In studies, he fell slightly short of Yinreng, but in mounted archery, he excelled above all the princes. For this reason, he trained even more relentlessly, hoping to leave the Crown Prince far behind and prove to everyone that he, Yinti, was no inferior to the Crown Prince.
After all, his grand-uncle Mingzhu often reminded him that since ancient times, the principle was to “establish the eldest, not the most virtuous.” Moreover, he had been brave and mighty since childhood—exactly the qualities befitting an Heir Apparent.
Though he knew he couldn’t achieve ten consecutive bullseyes today, at least he could boast about it, ensuring no one would underestimate him.
Sure enough, Yinreng pressed his lips together and fell silent.
After all, despite his long practice in consecutive shooting, his best record was only three bullseyes in a row.
When Yinti saw Yinreng remain silent, he secretly rejoiced. Having no interest in this bean-sized ninth brother’s selection of an Anda, he nodded toward Ashumuergen and said, “I’ll continue with my practice.”
Just as he was about to mount his horse, he heard Ashumuergen drawl, “Since the First Prince is so disciplined and diligent, you may not return until you’ve achieved ten consecutive bullseyes today.”
Yinti’s face fell.
Although this A Shumergen Anda had always been strict with the princes’ training, today’s remark had merely been casual banter—why was it being taken seriously? Yet as he had previously served as Han Ama’s Anda, none of the princes dared disobey him, and Yinti was no exception. He wouldn’t dare talk back.
Otherwise, if Ashumuergen merely uttered Yinti’s name lightly before Han Ama, it would be enough to make him suffer.
Moreover, the “ten consecutive shots” had been his own claim. To retract it now would only give the Crown Prince a reason to mock him. Gritting his teeth, Yinti accepted the task and rode off with a darkened expression.
Watching Yinti retreat dejectedly after hitting a solid wall, Yintang suddenly understood why everyone in his previous life had enjoyed wish-fulfillment stories.
Because it truly was satisfying.
Author’s Note:
[1] Nai Wu Ta: A treat made from milk, rock sugar, and glutinous rice flour, with a texture similar to milky soft candy.